Minimum Wage vetoed

Gov.Tim Pawlenty has turned his back on the working poor by vetoing the minimum wage bill that was passed by the legislature earlier this week . According to MPR

The bill would have raised the lowest hourly wage for workers at large companies by 60 cents to $6.75 in mid-July and another dollar a year later. That's for businesses with annual sales above $625,000. Smaller employers would have to pay at least 50 cents more an hour, or $5.75, starting in July and their minimum wage would go up to $6.75 a year later.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty said his concerns were the size of the boost in relation to the federal minimum wage and the lack of a distinct wage for employees who earn tips.

Governor Pawlenty has received some heat over this veto.
An article in the Mpls Star Tribune stated that Worker advocate groups have criticized the veto, saying they had compromised several times to meet Pawlenty's concerns only to have him reject the bill anyway.

"I don't think a total of $8 a week above the federal minimum wage for the rest of this year or $13 a week over the next year is too much to ask," said Kris Jacobs, director of the JOBS NOW Coalition....


With the high prices for gas and food, and heating cost expected to skyrocket this winter it is a shame the our governor would turn his back on the working poor of this state